Anyone who has walked through Dirty Dean in the hours after sunset Thursday through Saturday has surely heard the latest bass-busting songs that are dominating the weekend playlist. In the spirit of Homecoming, I was left to wonder what the weekend playlists back in the day included. So, everyone get ready and let us shake it all the way back to the 1970s.
The songs of the ‘70s have those funky beats and catchy hooks that really get people going. Wild Cherry’s “Play that Funky Music” is the perfect song to kick off the weekend. To please the whole crowd throw on “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen and keep it going with “American Pie” by Don McLean. Not forgetting Elton John, end the ‘70s experience with “Bennie and the Jets” and get ready for the ‘80s.
With poofy hair and crazy outfits, the people of the ‘80s knew how to have a good time. To kick it off is “Come on Eileen” by Dexys Midnight Runners. Madonna was making an emergence so “Holiday” was sure to be heard. If you felt as strongly as Joan Jett, “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” made the cut and “Love Shack” by the B-52’s would surely follow. End the night with Journey’s crowd favorite, “Don’t Stop Believin,’” to put everyone in a good mood.
Fresh new backbeats brought the ‘90s weekend playlists to life. House of Pain quite literally made people “Jump Around” with their song, and the “Macarena” brought the whole party together thanks to Los Del Rio. The Backstreet Boys made the list with “Everybody” and Montell Jordan showed everyone how he did it with his hit, “This Is How We Do It.” Wrapping up the 90s playlist is none other than “Mambo No. 5” by Lou Bega.
Thanks to those not at all awkward middle school dances, we are all familiar with the songs that made the 2000s. Courtesty of Gwen Stefani and “Hollaback Girl,” the world can correctly spell b-a-n-a-n-a while kicking of their night right. Crib accurately described everyone’s thoughts during weekend parties with “Hot in Here.” To end the ‘00s we will leave off with *NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye.”
Running the weekend playlists now is a newly emerging pattern of EDM songs. Songs similiar to “Stole the Show” by Kygo and “Lean On” by Major Lazer are starting to dominate the weekend. Chromeo adds a mix of music tastes with their electrofunk single “Jealous.” While the Weekend is still giving us some R&B with everyone’s favorite, “Can’t Feel My Face.”
While it is obvious that the weekend playlist has changed dramatically over the decades, one thing remains certain: people will always be able to jam to a classic from any decade. If this article is bringing back a desire to listen to some throwback, no need to worry, these songs plus many more are compiled in a Spotify playlist for your listening convenience. Just search ‘Weekend then and now’ by prpark.park and get ready for a blast from the past this weekend.